Weather News

Chilliest nights since spring

Brett Dutschke,
Monday March 16, 2009 - 17:45 EDT

Parts of southeastern Australia are having their coldest nights since spring, colder than it's been this early in the year since 2005 for some.

Temperatures are plummeting five to 10 degrees below average across parts of inland Victoria, the ACT and western, southern and central NSW due to clear skies and dry winds. Bega on the NSW South Coast dipped to 5.6 degrees early this morning, the coldest it's been this early in the year in 15 years.

Some places recorded their lowest temperature this early in the year since 2005, including Tuggeranong in the ACT (3.9 degrees) and Cobar in Upper Western NSW (9.2 degrees). Dartmouth in Northeast Victoria had their coldest night since spring with a 5.2 degree minimum.

The next few nights and early mornings will be colder than the last few in parts of South Australia, Victoria and NSW as cloud clears and winds ease.

The Northeast Pastoral, Murray, Riverland, Mallee and Lower and Upper Western districts are favoured areas to have their coldest night since spring. Some locations in this area which are a chance are Yunta, Renmark, Mildura, Broken Hill and Ivanhoe.

Nights will warm up from Thursday as southerly winds turn more easterly.